Weekend Actuals: 'Hotel Transylvania 2' Takes Off with Biggest September Debut, 'The Intern' a Pleasant Surprise, and 'The Green Inferno' Dies Out

     Three new wide releases, animated sequel 'Hotel Transylvania 2', comedy 'The Intern', and cannibal horror 'The Green Inferno', opened this weekend to mostly respectable numbers as 'Transylvania' had the highest September debut of all time and 'Intern' had a solid opening while 'Inferno' represents the lowest opening for director Eli Roth.
     Easily taking the Number 1 spot, 'Hotel Transylvania 2', an $80-million Adam Sandler led animated comedy from Sony, broke the September opening record with $48.5 million, besting its predecessor's $42.5 million debut. The per-theater average ($12,910) was also barely higher than the first 'Hotel Transylvania ($12,697). Nevertheless, this marks a successful rebound for both Sony and Sandler, both who experienced recent box office duds like 'Pixels' ($77.2m) and 'That's My Boy' ($36.9m). 'Transylvania' started out with $13.3 million on Friday, increased a very strong 55.7% on Saturday to earn $20.8 million, and declined 30.7% on Sunday and grossing $14.4 million. That places the film's weekend-to-Friday ratio at a very solid 3.65-to-1. That suggests very solid holding power like the first one, which went on to make $148.3 million domestic. Reviews are better but like the first they aren't all that great (52% on Rotten Tomatoes), but word-of-mouth is pretty solid like the last one (80% on Flixter and an 'A-' CinemaScore). This installment will likely pass the first 'Transylvania''s cume, and a final total of over/under $165 million is likely.
     In second place, $35-million Anne Hathaway / Robert De Niro led PG-13 comedy 'The Intern' posted an excellent debut this weekend with $17.7 million. That is above some of director Nancy Meyer's other movies like 'The Holiday' ($12.8m) and 'Something's Gotta Give' ($16.1m) and just $4.4 million below 'It's Complicated' ($22.1m). With an solid per-theater average of $5,364, 'Intern' began with $6.2 million on Friday, increased 18.1% on Saturday, earning $7.4 million, and fell 43.5% on Sunday to gross $4.2 million, putting the weekend-to-Friday ratio at 2.85-to-1, suggesting great legs going forward. Reviews aren't very encouraging however (56% on RT), although audiences are a bit more generous ('A-' on CinemaScore). A cume of around $65-$70 million should be a lock.

     Down two spots from last weekend, $61-million Dylan O'Brien led dystopian YA adaptation 'Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials' fell 52.9% from its opening of $30.3 million to gross $14.3 million. 'Scorch Trials' has so far been underwhelming with $52 million in the bank, whereas the first 'Maze Runner' had $58 million at the same point. Unfortunately, due to weak reviews (50% on RT) and word-of-mouth that doesn't live up to the original ('B+' on CinemaScore) as well as its nature as a sequel, 'Scorch Trials' should finish with a solid but uneventful $85 million.

     In fourth place, Universal's mountain climbing drama/thriller 'Everest' performed modestly in its nationwide expansion, taking in $13.2 million, which is up 83.4% from its $7.2 million IMAX/PLF release last weekend. However, the per-theater average this weekend ($4,405) was down a whopping 66.8% from last weekend's take ($13,251), suggesting that audiences were mostly interested in experiencing the film in IMAX. The $55-million drama has so far taken in a total of $23.3 million, and will need to rely on solid reviews (72% on RT) and word-of-mouth (76% on Flixter) to hold up well. Still, expect a total of around $60 million.
     Falling 51.3% from last weekend, Warner Bros.' crime film 'Black Mass', starring Johnny Depp and costing $53 million, earned $11 million. That hold isn't nearly as good as similar crime thrillers 'The Town' (-34.5%) and 'The Departed' (-29.2%), and while reviews are solid (75% on RT), audiences aren't really enjoying it as much ('B' on CinemaScore). 'Black Mass' currently has $42.1 million, and should end its run with $60 million.

     M. Night Shyamalan's $5-million horror comedy from Universal 'The Visit' was down just 42.3% from last weekend, making $6.7 million. 'Visit' has so far reinforced M. Night Shyamalan's career, with $52.2 million already and a possible lock for $65 million.
     Sony's 'The Perfect Guy' continues to perform solidly and fall off quickly with $4.8 million this weekend, down 51%. The $12-million production has so far grossed a stellar $48.9 million, and looks to be finishing with around $54 million total.
     'War Room', the $3-million sleeper hit from Sony, dropped a slim 31.7% from last weekend to earn $4.2 million, adding to its strong $56 million cume. 'War Room' looks to be closing with about $67 million by the end of its run.
     'The Green Inferno' debuted very modestly with a $3.5 million opening and a $2,286 per-theater average. The $6-million cannibal horror-thriller from High Top Releasing performed on the low end of its pre-release expectations, which tended to range from $4-$5 million. 'Inferno' should continue to die out from theaters as it should finish with at least $6 million.

     Lionsgate's $30-million crime thriller 'Sicario'
successfully expanded to 59 locations following a strong limited release in 6 theaters last weekend ($401.3k for a $66,881 per-theater average). 'Sicario' was up a very strong 327.9% from last weekend to gross $1.7 million for a solid $30k per-theater average. With $2.3 million in the bank, 'Sicario' looks to expand nationwide next weekend.
     'A Walk in the Woods' fell a whopping 60.6% from last weekend due to it losing 788 theaters and grossing $1.1 million. 'Woods' has so far grossed $27.3 million, and should finish with around $30 million if it doesn't take another drastic drop in theater count.
     Rounding out the Top 12, biography 'Pawn Sacrifice' grossed $1.01 million this weekend for a $1,287 per-theater average, up 397.4% from last weekend when it grossed $202.1k. The thriller could gross $3 million by the end of its run if it holds up well, which is very likely.
     The Top 12 this weekend amassed a total of $127.8 million, which is up a very encouraging 29.6% from last weekend and 30.1% from last year when 'The Equalizer' took the top spot with a solid $34.1 million debut.
     Next weekend sees the nationwide release of Fox's highly-anticipated novel adaptation 'The Martian', the IMAX-only release of 'The Walk, and the nationwide expansion of 'Sicario'.